Lamp assembly



Dec. 17, 1940.

F. V. HlCOK LAMP ASSEMBLY INVENTOR.

Filed May 31, 1953 BY lwWhM W Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES LAMPASSEMBLY Frank V. Hicok, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to W. B. JarvisCompany, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application May 31, 1938,-Serial No. 210,927

Claims. (01. 240-735) This invention relates to improvements in lampassemblies.

The main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a lamp assembly well adapted 5 for automobile domelights, which is characterized by its simplicity of construction,economy of materials, and ease of assembly.

Second, to provide a lamp assembly having a minimum of parts forsecuring the same in assembled position.

Third, to provide an assembly of the type described which ischaracterized by its simplicity and rigidity in assembled form.

Further objects relating to details and economies of my invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a. side view illustrating my assembly with parts thereof inseparated relation.

Fig. 2 is an inverted view partially broken away and in section toillustrate details of construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of my constructionillustrating the manner of assembling the parts.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 with the parts in assembled relation,the section being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The reference numeral l indicates an upholstered panel, for example,such as is found in automobile interiors or other suitable surface towhich it is desired to secure the lamp assembly of my invention. Thisassembly consists in general of a lamp receiving housing 2, which servesas a rear closure member for the assembly and is secured in opening 3 inthe panel by screws 4,

and a transparent or translucent glass cover or lens portion 5. Thehousing 2 has suitable connections for receiving a lamp 2 and forsupplying current thereto, however, these provisions form no part of myinvention.

The cover portion 5 consists of a suitableornamental trim and securingescutcheon or bezel 6 having an annular inner flange I against which thesimilarly conformed outwardly extending ledge or flange 8 of the glassor lens 5 abuts.

The lens is held in snug engagement with flange 1 by means of a backplate generally indicated l0, which conforms in outline to the outlineof the bezel 6 and has a central aperture ll through which light fromlamp 3 passes. This plate I0 is secured to the bezel by lips l2 foldedinwardly on the edges of the bezel. The plate ID has angled portions orside wings l3 extending transversely to its plane or toward housing 2,as illustrated in Fig. 1. At the ends of the wings 00 I3, I provide lensengaging lugs or feet l4 which are struck forwardly from the plane ofthe plate as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Reference to these figures andto Fig. 2 makes it clear that plate I0 is embossed or deformed at I5 todepress the surface thereof for engagement by lips l2. 5 When plate I 0is assembled on bezel 6 by means of lips l2, the wings l3 are disposedat a slight angle outwardly from the vertical as illustrated in Fig. 3,and it is apparent that if the said wings are compressed toward oneanother the feet l4 l0 will be urged firmly against the ledge 8 of lens5 to hold the same securely in place. Deflection of wings I3 isaccomplished by their engagement in housing 2 in assembledposition, asillustrated in Fig. 4. At such time the legs l4 are sprung 15 slightly.In order to effect a releasable locking connection between housing 2 andcover portion 5, the wings l3 are provided with keyhole slots l6 havingenlarged forward openings. These slots terminate in round bays l1adapted to be 20 resiliently and releasably engaged by lugs l8 struckinwardly on the sides of housing 2. The lugs I8 are preferably somewhatlarger in diameter than the bays IT, with the result that the springeifort exerted on wings I3 will be main- 25 tained at all times, thusurging legs I4 into effective clamping engagement with the lens and theedges of the plate are urged against the lugs or lips]; I

From the foregoing, the advantages of my con- 30 struction should beclear. I provide an assembly which is very securely held together withno possibility of rattling or accidental displacement, and moreover, Iaccomplish these ends without recourse to any securing means such asbolts, 35 rivets, screws and the like. I utilize only elements which arenecessarily present in any lamp assembly and by suitably conformingthese elements Iassure" the very advantageous features of simplicity,strength, and ease of manipulation 4 which have been referred to.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichis very practical.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments oradaptations as it is be- 45 lieved this disclosure Will enable thoseskilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A light assembly comprising a lamp housing, a cover therefor, a lensremovably mounted in said cover, and means for securing said housing andcover together and for securing said lens 55 to said cover comprising aplate secured to the cover between the same and the housing, andresilient members on said plate frictionally engageable with saidhousing to hold the housing to the plate, said plate having offsetflexible lens 60 2 engaging lugs for holding the lens in place in thecover, said lens engaging lugs being flexed-into resilient clampingengagement with the lens upon engagement of said resilient members withsaid housing. 7 b b 2. A lamp assembly comprising a lamp housing and acover, said cover comprising a bezel having an inner annular flange,alens having a ledge in abutting relation to the flange; and means forsecuring said cover and housing together and for maintaining said lensin operative relation to said bezel, comprising a plurality of retainingelements on said bezel, a plate having releasable snap engagement withthe retaining elements on said bezel and disposed'between said lens andhousing,.said 'plateha-ving-ledge engaging spring elements. and being.provided with upstanding wings engageable with the housing, cooperatingmeanson said 1 housing and wings for resilient and releasableengagement, said housing springing'said wings when assembledtherewithwhereby to urge-saidspring elements against saidledgeandclampingly engage the lens against the bezel. v

3. A lamp assembly comprising a lamp housing and a cover, a lens inabutting relation to the cover, and means for securing said cover andhousing together and for maintaining said lens in operative relation tosaid cover comprising a plate having snap-on engagement with saidhousing and disposed between said lens and.

housing, said plate having flexible offset lens engaging lugs and beingprovided with upstanding resilient membersengageable-with the housing,cooperating means on said housing for .re-

leasable engagement with said members, said. housing springing saidmembers when assembled therewith whereby to urge said lugs againstsaidlens and clampinglyengage the J lens with the cover.-

, 4. A lamp assembly comprising a rear memher and an ornamental trimmember, a trans? lucent member between said rear and trim mem-. bers,and means for securing said trim and rear members together and formaintainingsaid translucent member in operative relation thereto,comprising plate means removably disposed between said rear and trimmemberssaid last namedmeans having elements ofisettherefrom ;in oppositedirections and engageablevwith said translucent and rear membersrespectively and adapted to be resiliently sprung by said engagement tohold the members in assembled relation, and coacting means on said platemeans and trim member providing releasable snap engagementof the same. v

5. A lamp assembly comprising a lamp housing and a cover, said coverincluding] a glass and a bezel in restraining engagement therewith, andmeans for securing said cover to said housing and ,for urging said glassinv a direction away from the housing into snug engagement with saidbezel, comprising a pair of angled wing members having integralresilientvportions offset therefrom in opposite directions and engag ingsaid glass and housing respectively, ineans for securing said wingmembers to said bezel, and means on said housing and housing engagingmembers for releasable locking engagement,

said housing engaging portion being deformable by engagement with saidhousing to spring said glass engaging portion and clampingly engage saidglass with said bezel.

6. A lamp assembly comprising a hollow lamp housing and a cover, saidcover including a glass and a bezel in restraining engagement therewith,and means for securing said cover to said housing and for urging saidglass in a direction away from the housing into snug engagement withsaid bezel, comprising an angled resilient member having opposedresilient side portions and further portions ofiset therefrom, said sideand further portions being disposed in opposite directions andoperatively engaging the housing and glass respectively, said memberbeing disposed between said housing and bezel and secured to saidbezel,said housing engaging side portions being deformable toward one anotherby engagement with the interior side walls of the hollow housing tospring said further portions and clampingly engage said glass with thebezel.

7. A lampassembly comprising a hollowlamp housing, a cover, and a glassloosely mounted within the cover, and means for securing said cover tothe housing and said glass within the cover, comprising anangled memberhaving a portion engageable with said glass toexert pressure thereon inone direction and an upstanding portion telescopingly reoeivableJwithinsaid housing for engagement with the interior wall of the housing anddeformable by said engagement in a direction transverse said first nameddirection, said glass engaging portion being connected to saidupstanding portion whereby .deformation of the latter urges the-formerinto clamping relation to the glass, said housing and upstanding portionhaving frictional engagement to maintain the deformation of saidupstandingportion.

8. A lampassembly comprising a housing, a

diverging housing engaging members; said hous ing being in springingengagement with said members, whereby clamping stress is placed upontheplateto urge'it againstv said lugs on said bezeland saidlugs on saidplate-against saidglobe. i

9. A lamp assembly comprising ahousing, a bezel provided with arearwardly projecting border flange having spaced lugs, a globe seatedin said bezel, a retainin plate fitting within said flange on saidbezelysaid plate being provided with lugs engaging said globe and withopposed normally diverging parts, saidhousing being in springingengagement with saidtparts, whereby clamping stress is placed upon theplate to urge it against said lugson said bezel and said lugs on saidplate against said globe. y i

10. A lamp assembly comprising a housing, a bezel provided witharearwardly projecting borderflange having spaced inturned edge-portionsprovidinginternal lugs, a retaining plate f tting engagement with saidlugs, said plate being providedlwith opposed normally diverging housingengaging members, said housing being in springing engagement with saidmembers, whereby clamping stressv is placed upon the plate to urge itagainst said lugs. l

a FRANK V. HICOK.

65 within: said flange on said bezel and having snap

